Collaborative Care

Having a baby is a wonderful experience!  However, different women may have different needs in relation to pregnancy and childbirth and may therefore require access to more individual levels of care.  In maternity care, collaboration is a dynamic process of facilitating communication, trust and pathways that enable health professionals to provide safe, woman-centred care.  Furthermore, findings from several comprehensive Australian maternity reviews have confirmed the need for maternity services to work within collaborative and consultative frameworks, to more closely match maternity services to women’s individual needs, preferences and expectations.  This Collaborative Care service is available through Northern Beaches Midwifery for public and private patients that wish to deliver at a hospital they choose in their catchment area.  Suzanne John (Endorsed Midwife), in collaboration with Dr. Lisa Robinson (Obstetrician and Gynaecologist), offer a safe and effective individual Continuity of Care plan that enables you to be an active participant in your care, respecting your choices, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for everyone involved.  Working within established clinical networks and systems to facilitate timely referral and transfer to appropriate services when required, the Collaborative Care service from Northern Beaches Midwifery facilitates the growth of trust between you and your midwife (Suzanne), helping make your pregnancy a wonderful experience for you. 

At Northern Beaches Midwifery, every antenatal visit is tailored to your individual needs in order to ensure a positive experience for you. From examinations and tests that are essential for providing safe antenatal care, to booking appointments at accommodating hours to minimise your inconvenience, our fundamental goal is to establish a welcoming environment where courteous interaction fosters the growth of a trusting relationship.  During the antenatal period, there is recommended  consultation schedule, with a comprehensive care plan available from Northern Beaches Midwifery. For childbirth, your anticipated stay at a Public Hospital is between 48 and 72 hours, following which we stay in contact with you, visiting you at home after the birth of your baby, enabling you to talk through your birthing experience.  At this time we will be able to check you and your baby and discuss any concerns you may have. You will also have access to the Midwives in the Home service, who may visit and monitor you in the fourteen days following the birth, and a Community Child and Family Health Nurse may also make contact to arrange a follow up.  For some new families, additional postnatal visits or telephone advice might be appropriate, which we can also discuss with you as an option to meet your individual needs.  An appointment for the comprehensive six-week postnatal check up will then be organised at a convenient time for you.